Tiki vibes, real wine, serious Wednesday deals
Lighthouse District · Monterey · California/Hawaiian, Polynesian-inspired · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Hula's Island Grill’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a tiki bar expecting Mai Tais and a laminated beer list, and instead you find a 20-bottle-plus wine program with German Riesling, Willamette Valley Pinot, and a sparkling rosé from Maui. That alone earns a second look. The list isn't trying to be a wine bar — it's trying to be useful — and mostly it succeeds.
The range here punches above its casual-island-grill weight class. California anchors the list smartly — Tyler and Chamisal represent the serious end of the Chardonnay section, while Argyle's Bloom House Pinot brings legitimate Willamette Valley credibility to the reds. There are smart international picks sprinkled in: Selbach's 'Ahi' Riesling from the Mosel is a great call for a seafood-heavy menu, and Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough fits the coastal energy perfectly. The weak spots are real — Barefoot in 1.5L bottles and Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve feel like placeholder stock, and they drag down what is otherwise a thoughtful-enough collection.
Seventeen by-the-glass options is a genuinely impressive number for this format, and the range covers sparkling, whites, rosé, and reds without feeling scatter-shot. Prices run $11–$20 a glass, which is honest for Monterey. Wednesday's Wine Down half-off bottle deal is where this program really shines — show up midweek and you're suddenly drinking Tyler Chardonnay at a price that makes the whole dinner feel like a win.
Selbach 'Ahi' Riesling (Mosel, Germany) — $11–$14/glass (estimated)
A Mosel Riesling named 'Ahi' at a Hawaiian grill is either a happy accident or a stroke of genius — either way, it's the smartest pour on the list for a fish taco or anything coming off the kitchen with heat or citrus. Selbach makes honest, affordable Riesling and this one earns every dollar.
Argyle 'Bloom House' Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Most people at a tiki grill are ordering Cab or the house red. Skip all of that and go here. Argyle is a legitimate Willamette producer and the Bloom House bottling is real wine at a price point that doesn't require a conversation with your accountant.
Rombauer Chardonnay (Carneros, California)
Rombauer is fine — it's also everywhere, it's expensive, and it's the wine equivalent of ordering the same thing you always get. In a list that includes Tyler and Chamisal, paying the Rombauer premium here is just habit, not a choice.
Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) + Fish Tacos
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was basically engineered for this moment. The grapefruit and green herb notes cut through any fish richness, play well with lime crema and slaw, and the bright acidity resets your palate between bites. This is the move.
Wednesday — Wine Down Wednesday — half off bottles of wine. Specialty or reserve bottles may be excluded. Happy Hour also features $8 house wines by the glass.
The Bottom Line
Hula's is a legit Wild Card — a tiki-themed island grill in Monterey that actually thought about its wine list, keeps prices fair, and runs a Wednesday half-off bottle deal that changes the math entirely. It's not destination wine drinking, but it's a lot better than it has any right to be.
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Alvarado Street is primarily a brewery, and the wine list knows it — it's compact, unpretentious, and priced without gouging. But it also has enough Central Coast credibility (Comanche, Curran, Le P'tit Paysan) to surprise you. If you're in the group that wants wine while everyone else debates hop schedules, you're covered and you won't overpay for it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Carmel Valley · Monterey · Californian / Fine Dining
Lucia has the bones of a serious wine program — sommelier on staff, strong regional identity, and a setting in Carmel Valley that practically demands a good bottle. We just can't verify the specifics well enough to point you toward a particular pour or call out the markups with any precision. Go in expecting a deep, well-kept list with hotel-restaurant pricing to match, and let the sommelier do the heavy lifting. It's worth the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Monterey · Wine bar
If you're rolling through Monterey and want something more interactive than staring at a laminated wine list, The Wine Experience is a legitimate detour — especially for anyone curious about what the Santa Lucia Highlands and San Benito County are actually producing right now. We'd send a curious friend here without hesitation; we'd just tell them to skip any expectations of a formal dinner and lean into the tasting-room energy instead.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Carmel-by-the-Sea · Monterey · Continental / Fine Dining
Anton & Michel is the kind of room where the wine list serves the occasion rather than the other way around — and for a special-occasion dinner over beef Wellington or rack of lamb, that might be exactly what you want. We'd love to get a full look at current pricing before giving this a stronger endorsement, but the Central Coast regional focus is a legitimate draw for anyone who wants to drink local in one of California's best growing corridors. Go for the room, stay for the lamb, and ask your server what's drinking well off the list right now.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Wine bar / Tasting room
De Tierra is a focused, fairly priced producer tasting room that makes a real argument for Monterey wine without inflating the ego or the prices. If you're driving the 68 corridor or wandering through the peninsula, this is worth a stop — just go in knowing you're here for one winery's story, not a deep-dive across regions.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Wine Bar / Bistro
A Taste of Monterey is exactly what it advertises — a tight, local-first wine list that doubles as a crash course in what the Central Coast can do with white grapes. Pricing is honest, the regional focus is genuine, and the Wrath Falanghina alone is reason enough to pull up a stool. If you're eating along the Monterey waterfront and want something more interesting than a tourist-trap wine list, this is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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